Targeted, competitive offers while browsing

ABSTRACT

Systems, methods and computer readable media are disclosed for providing targeted offers to a user who has a pre-existing account with the offeror based on information of the account and the user&#39;s web browsing information. In addition to the general system, systems, methods and computer readable media for such targeted offers, the targeted offer provider may comprise a combination of a web browser toolbar and a computing system linked across a communications network, the networking equipment of an internet service provider, and a proxy computing device.

CROSS-REFERENCE

This application is related by subject matter to the subject matterdisclosed in the following commonly assigned applications, the entiretyof which are hereby incorporated by reference herein: U.S. patentapplication Ser. No. 12/101,828, filed Apr. 11, 2008, and U.S. patentapplication Ser. No. 12/101,849, filed Apr. 11, 2008, each filed on evendate herewith and each entitled “Targeted, Competitive Offers WhileBrowsing.”

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The effectiveness of Internet-based advertising depends largely on anadvertiser's ability to tailor its ads to a specific user. For example,a user residing in California is much more likely to patronize a drugstore with locations only in California than is a user residing inTexas. Likewise, a retiree on a small, fixed income is much less likelyto be interested in purchasing an expensive sports car than is apracticing physician who is earning a great deal of money. As such,on-line advertisers are frequently concerned with gaining informationabout users so that they can better determine what advertisements topresent, so that their advertisements will be more effective. A problemexists because advertisers usually lack information about users.

This problem is exacerbated where the terms of an advertised offerdepend on characteristics of the user, such as with insurance. The rateand terms which an insurance company is willing to offer healthinsurance to a user can vary greatly based upon the user's presenthealth, medical history, age, dietary and physical exercise habits, andthe like. It may be that, without knowing a sufficient amount of suchinformation, an advertiser is unable to make an offer to an individualat all. This problem may be alleviated where the user already possessesan account with the advertiser (such as where the user has a healthinsurance policy and the advertiser is an insurance company) and theadvertiser is able to use information taken from this account to moreaccurately determine the details of an offer to be made to theindividual.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In example embodiments of the present disclosure, a method and systemare provided to allow a company or entity that a user has an accountwith to provide targeted, competitive offers to that user while thatuser is accessing data on a communications network.

The method may include, but does not require, an offer engine receivingfrom a user's computing device browsing information about the user. Theoffer engine may receive this information in a variety of ways. Forinstance, it could function as a proxy that exists between the user'scomputing device and other computing devices on the communicationsnetwork, or it could communicate with a software program executing onthe user's computing device. The offer engine takes the browsinginformation and then determines a subject for the browsing information,determines a targeted offer (including specific details, such as price)based on the subject of the browsing information and the user's accountinformation. Finally, the offer engine sends to the user the offer.

A system and computer readable medium are also disclosed that performcomparable functions as the method discussed above.

The foregoing is a summary and thus contains, by necessity,simplifications, generalizations and omissions of detail. Those skilledin the art will appreciate that the summary is illustrative only and isnot intended to be in any way limiting.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The systems, methods, and computer readable media for providingtargeted, competitive offers to a user who is accessing a communicationsnetwork in accordance with this specification are further described withreference to the accompanying drawings in which:

FIG. 1 illustrates an example system for providing targeted, competitiveoffers to a user who is accessing a communications network.

FIG. 2 illustrates another example system for providing targeted,competitive offers to a user who is accessing a communications network.

FIG. 3 illustrates an example operational procedure for providingtargeted, competitive offers to a user who is accessing a communicationsnetwork.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF ILLUSTRATIVE EMBODIMENTS

Certain specific details are set forth in the following description andfigures to provide a thorough understanding of various embodiments.Those of ordinary skill in the relevant art will understand that theycan practice other embodiments without one or more of the detailsdescribed below. While various methods are described with reference tosteps and sequences in the following disclosure, the description as suchis for providing a clear implementation of embodiments of the invention,and the steps and sequences of steps should not be taken as required.FIGS. 1 and 2 illustrate operating environments in which operatingprocedures may be performed. FIG. 3 depicts example operatingprocedures.

In addition, while various methods are described with reference to stepsand sequences in the following description, the description is intendedto describe a clear implementation of embodiments of the invention, andthe steps and sequences of steps should not be taken as required topractice this invention. In general, it is contemplated that the varioussystems, methods, and computer readable media disclosed herein will beimplemented within a computing system. Such a system will generallyinclude “subsystems” for automatically handling the operations describedbelow in the manner described below. It should be understood that thevarious subsystems may be implemented with computer software that isexecutable by a processor, as described.

FIG. 1 illustrates a system for providing targeted, competitive offersto a user who is accessing a communications network. Those skilled inthe art will note that the elements are illustrative in purpose and thatdifferent implementations can select appropriate elements for suchimplementations.

An offer may comprise a commercial advertisement. It may also comprise asuggestion to perform a noncommercial course of action, such aspresenting exercise advice, or suggesting a group or association tojoin. An offer may further comprise a recommendation, such asrecommending that a user view a certain movie based on his or herinterest in another movie. As used herein, the term “offer” is intendedto be broadly construed so as to encompass, among other things,advertisements and presentments that do not necessarily constitutecommercial “offers” under the Uniform Commercial Code or other legalregimes.

In an embodiment, a user 118 uses a web browser 114 on a computingdevice 112 to connect to a remote web server 122 via a communicationslink with the web server 104 across a communications network 120.

The web browser 114 may comprise a program executing on a computingdevice 112 that is configured to send requests for web pages and displaythe received web pages. In another embodiment, it may comprise dedicatedhardware configured to do the same.

The computing device 112 may comprise a personal computer, a cellulartelephone configured to send and receive computer data, a personal dataassistant configured to do the same, or the like.

The remote web server 122 may comprise a computing device that stores atleast one web page and is configured to send each web page that itstores to a computing device that requests it across the network 120.

The communications link between the user's computing device 112 and theweb server 122 across the network 120 may comprise a series of datapackets sent between the web server 122 and the user's computing device112 in accordance with a communications protocol, such as the hypertexttransfer protocol, the transmission control protocol/internet protocolor the user datagram protocol.

In one embodiment, the user's web browser is further configured toinclude a browser toolbar 116. Third-party toolbars for browsers arebest known for adding functionality and ease-of-use options to the enduser. While the browser itself handles basic browsing navigation (Back,Stop, Reload, etc) using its own toolbars, external toolbars often addadditional functionality to browsers (additional search fields,form-fill, links back to popular sites, etc.). In the present example,browser toolbar 116 may be computer software that interfaces with theweb browser and collects information on the web page viewing of the user118 via the web browser 114. In another embodiment, the user's webbrowser is further configured to include a browser plug-in that providessimilar functionality as the toolbar 116.

The browser toolbar 116 is connected to (or configured to communicatewith) an offer engine subsystem 106 across the network 120 via thecommunications link with the offer engine 102. This communications linkwith the offer engine 102 may comprise a series of data packets sentbetween the web server 122 and the user's computing device 112 inaccordance with a communications protocol, such as the hypertexttransfer protocol, the transmission control protocol/internet protocolor the user datagram protocol.

In an embodiment, a local offer engine is stored and executes on theuser's computing device. In such a case, the offer engine may download adatabase of offers that are matched to subjects. The offer engine couldgenerate offers by itself, or in tandem with a remote offer engine.Where it generates offers with a remote offer engine, the local offerengine that is stored on the user's computing device may generate andreturn offers when the offer engine 106 is either offline, unavailable,or communicating with the user's computing device on a communicationslink that is not reliable enough to facilitate real-time offers.

The local offer engine may periodically download updates to its databaseso that it has a contemporary list of offers. In an embodiment, thedatabase would be encrypted so that the database entries could not beviewed by a user outside of the normal offer generation environment. Ifsomeone were to be able to decrypt the offer database, it would possiblycontain a wealth of competitive information due to the nature of thedata needed to make an offer.

In an embodiment, where the local offer engine lacks an offer for agiven subject, it may store that subject. Then, when communication withthe offer engine 106 resumes, it can communicate that subject to theoffer engine 106, which would then generate an offer for the subject.Given that the delay might mean that the offer would no longer bereal-time, in an embodiment, the delayed offer could be delivered in adifferent way than the real-time offer, such as via e-mail, where theoffer engine has an e-mail address known for the user.

In one embodiment, the offer engine 106 may comprise at least onesubsystem for parsing 108, at least one account database 109 and atleast one offer database 110.

In one embodiment, the user uses the web browser 114 to access a webpage stored on the web server 122. When the user does this, the browsertoolbar 116 sends a message indicative of browsing informationconcerning this exchange to the offer engine 106. The browsinginformation may comprise information identifying the user, the uniformresource locator of a web page to be viewed, the time spent on a webpage, a search term entered into a search browser, other informationinputted into a web page (such as personal information added to theuser's profile where the web server 122 stores at least one web pagewhich comprises a social networking website), the number of times theuser has viewed the current web page, and if the user came to the webpage via a link, which other web page contains that link.

In an embodiment, the offer engine 106 receives this message by at leastone subsystem for parsing 108 and then parses this message to determinethe browsing information, including a subject of the browsinginformation. This subject of the browsing information may comprise theitem, concept or matter that the user is interested in or trying tofind. In an embodiment, the subject may comprise an underwrittenaccount, and a product that may be underwritten. In an embodiment,determining the subject information may comprise maintaining, by theoffer engine 106, a database of uniform resource locators (URLs) with acorresponding subject or subjects, or also a corresponding offer oroffers. Where the message comprises the URL of the web page that theuser is attempting to navigate to, a subsystem for parsing 108 may parsethe message to determine that URL, and then the offer engine 106 maylook up that URL in this database to find the corresponding subject orsubjects. In another embodiment, where the message comprises the text ofthe web page, a subsystem for parsing 108 may parse the message toextract the text of the web page and then the offer engine may use anyof a variety of text processing algorithms to determine the subject. Inanother embodiment, where the message comprises a text query that theuser has entered into a search engine website, such as one offered byGoogle™ or Yahoo!™, a subsystem for parsing 108 may parse this textquery from the message and determine it to be the subject

Once the subject is determined, the offer engine 106 may look up anoffer suitable for the subject in the offer database 110. For instance,where the subject is automobile purchases, the offer may comprise anoffer to open an automobile insurance policy. Where the subject is afilm to view, the offer may comprise a different film to view that userswho enjoy the first film are likely to also enjoy. In an embodiment, theat least one system for parsing 108 also parses out information whichuniquely identifies the user. This is used to look up the user's accountor accounts in the account database 109. In an embodiment, an accountcomprises an underwritten account, such as one for an automobileinsurance policy. In at least one embodiment, the offer engine 106 nowhas the user's account information and an offer, and may use the accountinformation to determine details of the offer. For instance, where theoffer comprises an offer to open an automobile insurance policy, and theuser's account information shows that the user has a clean drivingrecord and represents a relatively small risk, the details of the offermay reflect a lower premium price than where the user's accountinformation shows that the user has a history of getting into automobileaccidents and represents a relatively large risk. In at least oneembodiment, where the risk is deemed to be unacceptably large, the offerengine 108 may determine to not make an offer 118 to the user on thissubject, or to make a different type of offer to the user 118 (in thisautomobile example, this different offer could comprise an advertisementfor a driving school). In another embodiment, where the targeted offercomprises an offer to open an underwritten account, the targeted offermay have at least one detail, and a detail may comprise a price, alength of time that the underwritten account would last, an expirationdate of the targeted offer, and a pre-requisite to engaging the targetedoffer (such as the user verifying that he is at least 18 years old).

When the offer and details of the offer have been determined, the offerengine 106 sends a message indicative of the offer to the browsertoolbar 116, which displays the offer to the user 118. In an embodiment,this may comprise the browser toolbar 116 directing the web browser 114to display a pop up window indicative of the offer, to display text,audio, images or video added to the currently viewed web page. Inanother embodiment, this may comprise the browser toolbar 116 directingthe web browser 114 to add links to the text of the currently viewed webpage, which when clicked by the user display the offer. In anotherembodiment, the browser toolbar 116 could directly generate a pop upwindow indicative of the offer and then display it to the user 118 onthe user's computing device 112.

FIG. 2 illustrates another example system for providing targeted,competitive offers to a user who is accessing a communications network.Those skilled in the art will note that the elements are illustrative inpurpose and that different implementations can select appropriateelements for such implementations.

In an embodiment, a user 218 uses a web browser 214 on a computingdevice 212 to connect to a remote web server 222 across a communicationsnetwork 220. The offer engine 206 may act as a proxy between thecomputing device 212 and the web server 222. The computing device 212may communicate with an offer engine subsystem 206 via a communicationslink with the offer engine 202 across the network 220. The offer engine206 may communicate with the web server 222 via a communications linkwith the web server 204 across the network 220.

In an embodiment of the present disclosure, the offer engine 206 acts asa proxy, and both the computing device 212 and the web server 222operate as if they were communicating directly through the network 220without any communication occurring through the offer engine 206.

The web browser 214 may comprise a program executing on a computingdevice 212 that is configured to send requests for web pages and displaythe received web pages. In another embodiment, it may comprise dedicatedhardware configured to do the same.

The computing device 212 may comprise a personal computer, a cellulartelephone configured to send and receive computer data, a personal dataassistant configured to do the same, or the like.

The remote web server 222 may comprise a computing device that stores atleast one web page and is configured to send each web page that itstores to a computing device that requests it across the network 220.

The communications link 202 between the user's computing device 212 andthe offer engine 206 across the network 220 may comprise a series ofdata packets sent between the web server 222 and the user's computingdevice 212 in accordance with a communications protocol, such as thehypertext transfer protocol, the transmission control protocol/internetprotocol or the user datagram protocol.

An offer engine subsystem 206 may be further connected to the web server222 across the network 220 via the communications link with the webserver 204. This communications link with the web server 204 maycomprise a series of data packets sent between the web server 222 andthe user's computing device 212 in accordance with a communicationsprotocol, such as the hypertext transfer protocol, the transmissioncontrol protocol/internet protocol or the user datagram protocol.

In one embodiment, the offer engine 206 may comprise at least onesubsystem for parsing 208, at least one account database 209 and atleast one offer database 210. The offer engine may comprise a networkedproxy device, such as a router or switch, or a computing system. In oneembodiment, the offer engine 206 is possessed by an entity functioningas an internet service provider, and at least some of the data trafficacross its network by its users is directed through the offer engine206.

In an embodiment, the user uses the web browser 214 to access a web pagestored on the web server 222. When the user does this, the offer engine206 may capture this browsing information as it receives it and forwardsit to the web server 222. The browsing information may compriseinformation identifying the user, the uniform resource locator of a webpage to be viewed, the time spent on a web page, a search term enteredinto a search browser, other information inputted into a web page (suchas personal information added to the user's profile where the web server222 stores at least one web page which comprises a social networkingwebsite), the number of times the user has viewed the current web page,and if the user came to the web page via a link, which other web pagecontains that link. In an embodiment, the browsing information has adestination web server and receiving a first message includes sendingthe browsing information to the destination web server.

In an embodiment, the offer engine 206 receives this message by at leastone subsystem for parsing 208 and there parses this message to determinethe browsing information, including a subject of the browsinginformation. Once the subject is determined, the offer engine 206 maylook up an offer suitable for the subject in the offer database 210. Forinstance, where the subject is automobile purchases, the offer maycomprise an offer to open an automobile insurance policy. Where thesubject is a film to view, the offer may comprise a different film toview that users who enjoy the first film are likely to also enjoy. In anembodiment, the at least one system for parsing 208 also parses outinformation which uniquely identifies the user. This is used to look upthe user's account or accounts in the account database 209. In at leastone embodiment, the offer engine 206 now has the user's accountinformation and an offer, and may use the account information todetermine details of the offer. For instance, where the offer comprisesan offer to open an automobile insurance policy, and the user's accountinformation shows that the user has a clean driving record andrepresents a relatively small risk, the details of the offer may reflecta lower premium price than where the user's account information showsthat the user has a history of getting into automobile accidents andrepresents a relatively large risk. In at least one embodiment, wherethe risk is deemed to be unacceptably large, the offer engine 208 maydetermine not to make an offer 218 to the user on this subject, or tomake a different type of offer to the user 218 (in this automobileexample, this different offer could comprise an advertisement for adriving school).

When the offer and details of the offer have been determined, the offerengine 206 sends a message indicative of the offer to the user's webbrowser 214, which displays the offer to the user 218. In an embodiment,comprise the offer engine 206 taking web pages returned by the webserver 222 and modifying them to instruct the web browser 214 to displaya pop up window indicative of the offer, to display text, audio, imagesor video added to the currently viewed web page. In another embodiment,this may comprise the offer engine taking at least one web page returnedby the web server 222 and modifying them to add links to the text of thecurrently viewed web page, which when clicked by the user display theoffer. In another embodiment, the offer engine 206 may generate a webpage or pop up window indicative of the offer and send it across thecommunications link 202 to the user's web browser 214 for display to theuser 218. In an embodiment, the offer engine 206 receives from the webserver a web page that corresponds to the web page requested from thebrowsing information, modifies that received web page to include thetargeted offer, and sends to the user the targeted offer consisting ofthe modified web page. In an embodiment, modifying the received web pageto include the targeted offer includes adding a hypertext link to eachoccurrence of the text of the subject in the received web page, suchthat clicking on such a link shows the targeted offer.

FIG. 3 illustrates a computer-based method for providing targeted,competitive offers to a user who is accessing a communications network.Those skilled in the art will note that the elements are illustrative inpurpose and that different implementations can select appropriateelements for such implementations.

Operation 300 begins the operational process. Operation 300 can betriggered for example in response to the user turning on his or hercomputing device 112, 212 or connecting that device to a communicationsnetwork 120, 220.

Operation 302 depicts receiving, from the browser toolbar, a firstmessage indicative of browsing information. In an embodiment, this maycomprise receiving, by the offer engine 106, the first message from abrowser toolbar 116 that is integrated with a web browser 114 andexecuting on the computing device 112 of a user 118. In anotherembodiment, this may comprise receiving, by the offer engine 206, arequest by the user 218 to view a web page intended for the web server222. The offer engine 206 may store this information in addition toforwarding it to the web server 222.

In an embodiment, the subject comprises information indicative of apotential purchase that the user is considering. For example, where theuser is viewing a web page dedicated to a specific automobile that isfor sale, the browsing information may comprise information thatindicates that the user is considering purchasing such an automobile.

Operation 304 depicts determining at least one subject for the browsinginformation. In an embodiment, this may comprise a subsystem for parsing108, 208 that is part of the offer engine 106, 206 parsing the browsinginformation to determine the subject. For instance, where each browsinginformation is sent as an extensible markup language file, the parsermay take the schema dictated by the file and isolate the portion thatthe schema indicates comprises the subject.

In an embodiment, the subject may comprise a product for the user topurchase. In the above example where the user is viewing a web pagededicated to a specific automobile that is for sale, the subject maycomprise that automobile.

Operation 306 depicts determining a targeted offer based on at least onesubject and the account. In one embodiment, the offer engine 106, 206receives information that uniquely identifies the user 118, 218 from aparsing subsystem 108, 208, which parsed it from a browsing informationand looks up the user's account in an account database subsystem 109,209. The offer engine 106, 206 also receives the subject from a parsingsubsystem 108, 208 and uses it to determine a corresponding offer in theoffer database 110, 210. For example, the offer database 110, 210 maycomprise a pairing of subjects and offers, and when the offer engine106, 206 presents the subject to the offer database 110, 210, the offerdatabase 110, 210 returns the subject with its corresponding offer oroffers and the offer engine 106, 206 then takes the offer from thatreturned information.

In an embodiment, the offer engine may determine the details of theoffer based on the account. For example, where the offer comprises anoffer to open an underwritten account, such as health insurance orautomobile insurance, or an offer to open a credit card, informationabout a particular user determines the terms of the offer. In the casewhere the offer is an offer to open a credit card, details such as thecredit limit and the interest rate are determined by the user's creditrisk. Where the account comprises a financial account, the offer enginemay analyze the information of that account, such as payment history,average balance and how long the account has existed to determine thecredit limit and the interest rate of the offer. In an embodiment, theinformation of the account may comprise a first name, a last name, adate of birth, a duration that the account has existed, a transactionhistory of the account, and a current status of the account.

In an embodiment, the offer may comprise a product to purchase, and aninsurance policy. In an embodiment, determining the targeted offer maycomprise searching a database of targeted offers and associated subjectsand identifying a targeted offer in the database having an associatedsubject that matches the subject of the browsing information

In an embodiment, Operation 306 further comprises receiving, from thebrowser toolbar, a second message indicative of browsing history, anddetermining the targeted offer based on the browsing history of thesecond message. In one embodiment, where the browsing history of thesecond message comprises the user having viewed websites devoted toillegal automobile street racing and the browsing information of thefirst message comprises the user viewing a website that sellsautomobiles, the offer engine 106 may determine that the risk is toogreat to provide the user 118 with automobile insurance, and may notsend such an offer to sell automobile insurance to the user 118. In anembodiment, the user's browsing history may comprise a HTTP cookie.

Operation 308 depicts sending a second message indicative of thetargeted offer. In an embodiment, the offer engine 106 sends a messageindicative of the offer to the browser toolbar 116, which displays theoffer to the user 118. In an embodiment, this may comprise the browsertoolbar 116 directing the web browser 114 to display a pop up windowindicative of the offer, to display text, audio, images or video addedto the currently viewed web page. In another embodiment, this maycomprise the browser toolbar 116 directing the web browser 114 to addlinks to the text of the currently viewed web page, which when clickedby the user display the offer. In another embodiment, the browsertoolbar 116 could directly generate a pop up window indicative of theoffer and then display it to the user 118 on the user's computing device112.

In another embodiment, the offer engine 206 sends a message indicativeof the offer to the user's web browser 214, which displays the offer tothe user 218. In an embodiment, comprise the offer engine 206 taking webpages returned by the web server 222 and modifying them to instruct theweb browser 214 to display a pop up window indicative of the offer, todisplay text, audio, images or video added to the currently viewed webpage. In another embodiment, this may comprise the offer engine takingat least one web page returned by the web server 222 and modifying themto add links to the text of the currently viewed web page, which whenclicked by the user display the offer. In another embodiment, the offerengine 206 may generate a web page or pop up window indicative of theoffer and send it across the communications link 202 to the user's webbrowser 214 for display to the user 218.

CONCLUSION

While the present disclosure has been described in connection with thepresently preferred or illustrative aspects, as illustrated in thevarious figures, it is understood that other similar aspects may be usedor modifications and additions may be made to the described aspects forperforming the same function of the present disclosure without deviatingtherefrom. Therefore, the present disclosure should not be limited toany single aspect, but rather construed in breadth and scope inaccordance with the appended claims. For example, the various proceduresdescribed herein may be implemented with hardware or software, or acombination of both. Thus, the methods and apparatus of the disclosedembodiments, or certain aspects or portions thereof, may take the formof program code (i.e., instructions) embodied in tangible media, such asfloppy diskettes, CD-ROMs, hard drives, or any other machine-readablestorage medium. When the program code is loaded into and executed by amachine, such as a computer, the machine becomes an apparatus configuredfor practicing the disclosed embodiments. In addition to the specificimplementations explicitly set forth herein, other aspects andimplementations will be apparent to those skilled in the art fromconsideration of the specification disclosed herein. It is intended thatthe specification and illustrated implementations be considered asexamples only.

What is claimed:
 1. A method for sending offers to a user who is viewinga web page through a web browser on a computing device of the user,wherein the computing device of the user is connected to an offer engineproxy maintained by a third party, wherein the offer engine proxy isinterposed between the computing device of the user and a destinationweb server and wherein the offer engine proxy has a communication linkwith the computing device of the user and a communication link with theweb server across a computer network, the method comprising: receiving,by the offer engine proxy, a first message comprising browsinginformation from the computing device of the user; sending, by the offerengine proxy, the first message comprising browsing information to thedestination web server; receiving, by the offer engine proxy, aresulting web page that corresponds to a web page requested by thebrowsing information from the destination web server; determining, bythe offer engine proxy, at least one topic of the browsing information;accessing, by the offer engine proxy, user information from an accountof the user, wherein the account is with the third party maintaining theoffer engine proxy and wherein the account is related to a productprovided to the user by an entity sending an offer to the user;determining, by the offer engine proxy, an offer to be sent to the userthat is based on the at least one topic of the browsing information andthe user information from the account of the user, wherein the offer tobe sent to the user has terms based upon the user information from theaccount of the user; modifying, by the offer engine proxy, the resultingweb page to include an offer to be sent to the user; and sending, by theoffer engine proxy, a second message comprising the modified webpageincluding the offer to the computing device of the user across thecomputer network.
 2. A method as set forth in claim 1, wherein modifyingthe resulting web page to include the offer includes adding a hypertextlink to each occurrence of text of the topic in the resulting web page,wherein the hypertext link provides a mechanism for viewing the offer.3. A method as set forth in claim 1, wherein modifying the resulting webpage to include an offer to be sent to the user includes adding ahypertext link to each occurrence of text of the topic in the resultingweb page, wherein the hypertext link provides a mechanism for viewingthe offer; and wherein the offer has a subject that corresponds to theat least one topic of the browsing information.
 4. A method as set forthin claim 1, wherein the offer comprises an offer to open a credit card,and wherein said user information further includes information as to theuser's credit history.
 5. A method as set forth in claim 1, wherein theaccount of the user is for an insurance product and the offer is anoffer for insurance services.